Revved Up September 19, 2021

Our first reading today is from the last chapter of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31:10-31) and is a eulogy to 'the good wife'.

The passage reminds us that the book was written for men - primarily for men who were trying to climb the social ladder of business and government - but this crowning eulogy also testifies to the significant role that a woman could have in Israelite society at the time. The ideal wife cares for her home and children, but she also buys land, cares for the poor, and is a significant player in her own right.

Our epistle reading from James (James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a) similarly has the Apostle extolling wisdom, but it's specifically the wisdom from above, which is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy." (James 3:17). This is in sharp contrast with the wisdom 'of the world', which is all about grabbing and accumulating.

Our Gospel reading (Mark 9:30-37) gives us Jesus' second prediction of the violence that awaits Him in Jerusalem. The disciples aren't able to hear what He is saying as it runs to contrary to their narrative. It doesn't seem to matter how often Jesus warns them that things aren't going to end well. Their heads are still full of the 'wisdom of the world'. How little things have changed.

Dave
http://www.fatherdave.org
http://www.fighting-fathers.com